State Electorate · Area profile
The Entrance
98 km²
Set across a wide area of the Central Coast, The Entrance is an older community with a population of 76,009. The typical resident is 42, which is noticeably older than the national figure. It is a place where many people have aged in place, as seen in the significant rise of seniors and a high proportion of long-term health needs. This creates a relaxed, residential character with strong ties to the land and a growing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence.
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The community is aging, with seniors making up 21.3% of the population and the typical age rising by 6 years since 2011. Notably, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen to 5.1%, which is much higher than most similar areas.
People born overseas make up 14.4% of the population, a figure that has fallen sharply since 2011 and is far below the state and national averages. Most residents claim English or Australian ancestry.
English is the dominant language, with only 6.3% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure and represents a significant drop over the last decade.
More than half of the population identifies as Christian, while 39.4% report having no religion. The number of people with no religion has risen by 28 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 17.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 47.3%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,519, which is a little below the national figure. While incomes have risen since 2011, only 8.8% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33.8% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This is consistent with the older age of the population, and 7% of residents need help with daily activities.
A high proportion of residents perform unpaid housework, and 12.3% provide unpaid care. However, the volunteering rate is slightly lower than the national figure at 12%.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 17.7% of households. Around 26.8% of people live alone, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Homes here are typically large, with 76.4% having three or more bedrooms. While 32.4% of homes are owned outright, the typical weekly rent has risen by $90 since 2011 to $390.
The area has a high number of public transport stops, yet only 1.2% of people use them to commute. Instead, car use is dominant, though 23.9% of people now work from home.
The community is relatively stable, as fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to most areas. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen significantly since 2011.
Full-time employment is among the lowest for similar areas at 52%. The workforce is largely concentrated in health care, construction, and retail trade.
Most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport, but many are far from groceries and health services. Overall, the area is considered somewhat walkable.